Educational device



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April 20, 1943. c; R. OESCH EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed June 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,317,107 EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Clark R. Oesch, Atwater, Ohio Application June 15,1942, Serial No. 447,051

6 Claims.

rality of keys similar to typewriterkeys beingprovided and so arranged that the cylinder will be rotated to display the. next problem only when the key designated by the proper answer to each problem is depressed.

A further object is to provide .a machine of this character with means for operating a hell or other signal by depression of any key excepting the correct key.

A still further object is the provision of such a machine in which the cylinders may be easilyand quickly changed sothat a great variety. of mathematical problems may be worked out upon the machine.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a roll upon which the cylinder is detachably mounted, pawl and ratchet means being pro- J vided for operatively associating the cylinder to the keys, means being provided in the machine for rendering all of the pawls inoperative so that the cylinder may be removed from the roll and replaced by another cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to pro-' vide an apparatus of this character in which each cylinder in its initial position upon the machine indicates the time limit for operation of the machine to complete the mathematical problems upon the cylinder, and also indicates the proper key to be operated to .rotate the C3711 inder to starting position. v L

Another object is the provision of such a machine with a novel ratchet and pawl mechanism for ringing a signal bell when an incorrect key is depressed.

Still another object of the improvement is to provide a machine of this character having a comb for separating the various key operated pawls which rotate the cylinder, means being provided for oscillating the comb so as to hold all of the pawls away from the cylinder and simultaneously locking the roll against rotation in order to remove and replace the cylinder.

vide. a new and useful mathematical test appa-' ratus so constructed and operated as to be interesting to children particularly and to encourage them to learn mathematical problems.

The above objects together with others which "will be apparent from the drawings and the following description may be attained by constructing and operating the improved machine in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2, a section taken on the line 22, Figure 1; i

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional elevation of the improved pawl and ratchet mechanism for ringing the signal bell when the wrong response is made;

Fig. 4, a section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a section taken substantially on the line 8- -6, Fig. 5;

Fig. '7, a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the oscillating comb for spacing the pawls and locking them. in inoperative position; and

Fig. 8, a detail elevation of the lever for operating said comb.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The machine may include a housing comprising a bottom wall l0, side walls II and [2, the latter preferably being removable or hinged as shown at l3 to the back wall M which may be extended upward and forward to form a semicylindric top wall [5, the forward end of which may be connected to the transversely disposed channel frame member or bar Hi to which is connected the front'partition wall I! vertically slotted as indicated at [8 to permit operation of the key bars as will be later described.

The bottom wall In may be extended a distance forwardly of the slotted wall I1 and terminate in the upturned front wall [9 and side walls 20 forming an open topped housing for the keys.

The roll 2| may be journaled upon the shaft 22 one end of which is fixed within the elongated bearing sleeve 23 carried by the side wall I I.

A ratchet wheel 24 is formed upon or fixed to this end of the roll and is engaged by a pawl comprising the spring arm 25 fixed to the housing as by the angle bracket 26 attached to the bottom wall 10, a roller 21 being carried upon the free end of the spring arm 25 and adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet 2:. to properly line space the operation of the roll.

Formed upon or fixed to the roll 2| adjacent to the ratchet wheel 24 is another ratchet wheel 28 the teeth of which are directed oppositely to those of the ratchet 24.

The roll 2| is provided with a longitudinal groove 29 for properly locating the cylinder 33 thereon.

These cylinders may be formed of plastic or any other suitable material being hollow as best shown in Fig. and of suitable diameter to have. a sliding fit upon the roll 2|, an internal longitudinal rib 3| being formed in the cylinder tobe received in the groove of the roll.

Each cylinder has located around its periphe ery at properly spaced points aplurality of teeth.

or lugs 32 corresponding in number to the prob-. lems carried upon the roll and corresponding in position relative to each other and to thekeys for operating thetcy-linder in-a manner to be later described.

The opposite end of; the shaft 22 is adapted to be received in bearing sleeve 33-carried-by the hinged side wall l2 which may be provided with knob 34. for swinging the same upon its hinge l3 so as to remove the'cylinder from the roll when it is desired to place a new cylinder, in the machine.

An enlarged rim portion -35may be formedupon this end of the cylinder and the various mathematical problems as indicated, at '35 may be printed or otherwise displayed upon this enlarged rim portion in position to. be" successively displayed through the window 31 in the semi-cylindric top wall l5 of the .housing.

Also, as indicated at 37, in Figs. 1 and 6, there-- is printedgor otherwise displayed upon theenlarged rim portion 35 .of eachcylinder, a legend indicating the timelimit within ,which-the-problems upon that cylinder should be completed and the key which should be operatedto rotate.

the cylinder to starting position.

As shown in the views of thedra-wings above referred to, the particular cylindershow-n car ries, on its rim portion 35, a legend 3'! indicating that the problems upon this cylinder should be completed within a time limit of five minutes.

as indicated at 5 min. in Figs. 1 andfi, andthat the 8 key should firstbeoperated to start theoperation of the cylinder, as indicated bythe numeral 8 following said timelimit indication.

This legend 3'! is so positioned upon the enlargedrim 35 that it will be displayed through the window 31 when the cylinder is in the initial or starting position, that is the position in ;which each cylinderis placed upon the roll 2|, with the groove 29,v of the roll, and rib 3|, of the cylinder at theexact top of the roll, as. shown quite-clearly in Fig. 5.

For thepurposepf holding, the cylinder against end motion upon the roll a link member 38.may be-pivotally connected ,to the outer end of the roll as by the thumb screw 39and adapted-- toengage over the end of the enlargedzrim -por-- tion 35 of the cylinder to hold the same in proper oted as at 45 upon the corresponding key bar, a spring 46 connecting said angular extension of the pawl to the channel bar l6 so as to normally urge the upper end of the pawl toward the cylinder 30.

With this construction as a key is depressed the corresponding pawl will ride down over the corresponding tooth or lug 32 upon the cylinder and as the key is released the spring 65 will raise the. key bar back to normal position, the pawl'43 of said key bar engaging over the corresponding tooth 32 and rotating the cylinder and the roll 2i upon which it is mounted, in the direction of the arrows shown in 2 and 5.

The line spacing pawl 25 cooperating with the ratchet wheel. 24 will permit the cylinder to be rotateda distance equal to the length of one tooth.32.'.so that the next problem upon the enlarged rim 35 of the cylinder will be dispiaycd through the window 31.

As; shown in the. drawings the rollvis. in the initialposition andtheeight key must be operated to start the. roll.

For: the purpose of properly spacing the pawls 43acomb41 is provided having the spaced teeth 48 adapted to be received between the pawls. 43

and .hold them in; properspaced relation relative tovthe. teeth,;32. upon the cylinder.

In order tomoveallof thepawls 43'away from the cylinder sorthatthe same. may be removed from: the roll, and at thesametime to holdthe;

roll. againstzrotationiat this time, the'comb'fl may 'bemounted .toooscillate' upon a shaftior. rod 49 and provided with the'fupwardly disposed bar 50 andthe depending fingeril An operating lever..52. may 'beifixed. upon .one:

end of theishaft 49 upon the outside of the side wall :H and .adaptedtotberockedifromtthe full 5| against .the pawl 25 and'hold'the'same. tightly.

engagedwiththeratchetwheel 24; for thepurpose of holding the parts in this position a projection:53:may be formed upon the .innerside of the lever 52 and adaptedtmengage in an aperturexor cavity 54 in the sidewall'rl I.

For :the purpose. :of giving a signal when any keyexcepting the correct on'e isdepressedat any time during. the operation of the machine a novel device 5 is provided. includinga rocker shaft 55 which is journaledxat'foppositewends in 'suitable bearings i 562 and. provided I with rocker arms 51 extending. forwardly andwconnected as by the barz5Bfadapted to be held in contact with the lowerfedgesof all'of the key bars as by the spring Aspring 64 is connected to-the lug 65-uporr the channellever GO' and to'the channel bar I6 fornormally urging the. channel lever towardthe ratchet wheel. 28.

Alspring wire;66 is connected at its lowerend' tothe upper portionzof the levernfifl'andicarries at its upper end' a tapper: 6! I'adapted to ;strike.-.

the bell 63 which may be supported within the top wall l of the housing.

In the operation of the machine as the proper key is depressed the cylinder will be rotated in the direction of the arrows a distance of one tooth or lug 32.

As the key is depressed the key bar will cause the rocker' frame 5'l-58 to move downward therewith pulling the lever 60 down the distance of one tooth upon the ratchet 28.

The hinged gate 61 will raise as the lever Bil moves downward and will then close beneath the tooth 28 over which it has passed and drop into position over the top of the next lower tooth on the ratchet 28.

Then as the key is released the cylinder will be rotated as the lever 60 rises to normal position.

However, if an incorrect key is depressed it will be seen that on the upward movement of the lever 60 the cylinder will not be rotated thus causing the upperend of the lever 60 to move cut away from the cylinder as the gate 6| passes As the lever 60 reaches the upward limit of its movement it will be thrown back into position against the ratchet 28, by means of the spring 64, causing the tapper 61 to strike the bell 68 and call the operators attention to the fact that an incorrect key was depressed and the cylinder was not operated.

Since the cylinder is not rotated when an incorrect key is depressed, the same problem will remain displayed through the window 31 until the correct key is depressed.

From the above it will be seen that by practice this machine develops an instant response to number combinations so that the student seeing any number combination displayed through the window 3'! will immediately depress the proper key.

For instance, assuming that the number combination 3x9 is displayed through the window 31, the student wlil instantly depress the key 21, and since the cylinder is so arranged that at this time the tooth or lug 32 thereon which is in line with the pawl of the key 21 is in position to be engaged by the pawl of said key, the cylinder will be operated and the next problem 7+4 will be displayed through the window 31 at which time depression of the key II will again operate the cylinder.

As a time limit is indicated for each cylinder the operator must know the correct answer to each combination as it appears through the window 31 or otherwise he will be unable to complete the series of problems within the time limit.

As shown in the drawings, each cylinder is arranged to present in order fifty number combinations, and as these combinations may be varied upon different cylinders the machine is capable of providing mathematical tests to suit the age or advancement of the pupil.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, a cylinder rotatable within said housing, the cylinder having a series of indicia constituting problems around one portion of its periphery in position to be successively displayed through said sight opening as the cylinder is rotated, a plurality of keys each having thereon the answer to one of said problems, movable pawls operated by said keys, means for normally holding the pawls in contact with the cylinder, and a series of longitudinally upward over a stationary tooth upon the ratchet and circumferentially spaced lugs upon said cylinder for engagement with said pawls for intermittently rotating the cylinder, said lugs being so located that in any position of the cylinder only the pawl of the key bearing the answer to the problem displayed through said sight opening willbe in operative position relative to one of said lugs.

2. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, a cylinder rotatablewithin said housing, the cylinder having a series of indicia constituting problems around one portion of its periphery in position 'to'be successively displayed through said sight opening as the cylinder is rotated, a plurality of keys each having thereon the answer to one of said problems, movable pawls operated by said keys, means for normally holding the pawls in contact with the cylinder, and a series of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced lugs upon said cylinder for engagement with said pawls for intermittently rotating the cylinder, said lugs being so located that in any position of the cylinder only the pawl of the key bearing the answer to the problem displayed through said sight opening will be in operative position relative to one of said lugs, signal means, and means operated by the operation of any other of said keys for causing operation of said signal means.

3. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, a cylinder rotatable within said housing, the cylinder having a series of indicia constituting problems around one portion of its periphery in position to be successively displayed through said sight opening as the cylinder is rotated, a plurality of keys each having thereon the answer to one of said problems, and cooperating means upon the cylinder and keys for causing intermittent rotation of the cylinder only by operating the key bearing the answer to the problem displayed through said sight opening, a ratchet wheel upon said cylinder, a channel cross-sectional shape lever associated with said ratchet wheel so that the teeth of the ratchet wheel move through the channel as the cylinder is rotated, means for moving the lever tangentially from and toward the ratchet wheel by operation of any of said keys, a signal, and a hinged gate upon the lever cooperating with the ratchet wheel for operating said signal by operation of any key other than the key bearing the answer to said problem.

4. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, a roll rotatable within said housing, a cylinder removably mounted around the roll, interengaging rib and groove means on the roll and cylinder, a series of problems around one portion of the periphery of the cylinder in position to be successively displayed through said sight opening as the cylinder is rotated, a plurality of keys each having thereon the answer to one of said problems, and cooperating means upon the cylinder and keys for causing intermittent rotation of the cylinder only by operating the key bearing the answer to the problem displayed through said sight opening.

5. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, a roll rotatable within said housing, a cylinder removably mounted around the roll, interengaging rib and groove means on the roll and cylinder, a series of indicia constituting problems around one portion of the periphery of the cylinder in position to be successively displayed through said sight openingasthe cylinder is rotated}, a plurality of 7 keys each having thereonthe' answer toone of said problems, movable pawls operatedby said keys, means normally holding the pawls in contact with the cylinder, a series of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced 1ugs upon saidcylinder for engagement with said pawls for intermittently rotating the cylinder, said lugs being so located that in any position of the cylinder only the pawl of the keybearing the answer to the problem displayed throu h Said sight opening willbe in operative position relative to one of said lugs, and means for simultaneously moving said pawls away from the cylinder and holding the roll against movement to'permit removal of the cylinder from the roll. 7 V

6. A machine of the class described including a housing having a sight opening, aroll rotatable within said housing, a cylinder removably mounted around the roll, interengaging rib and groove means on the roll and cylinder, a series of indicia constituting problems around one portion of the periphery of the" cylinder imposition to be successively displayed through said sight opening as the cylinder is rotated, a plurality of keys" each having thereon keys, means normally holdinglth pair 1's;,iiicoiz tact with the' cylinder, a series of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced lugs upon saidcylinder for engagement with said pawls forintexfniittently rotating the cylinder, said lugsbeing so located that in any position of the cylinder only the pawl of the key bearing the answer to the problem displayed through said sight opening will be in operative position relativelto one of said lugs, a ratchetfwheel fixed upon the roll, a line spacing paw1 engaging said ratchet to cause said bar to, move the key pawls away from the cylinder and tocause saidhlug upon the comb to hold the line .Spacing pawl tightly engaged with the ratchet wheel.

CLARK R, oEscn.

, Tears i6 Qii; at; said problems, movable pa isoper'etemby' said 

